Pillow construction

ABSTRACT

A polygonal pillow tick having a polygonal batt of corresponding configuration enclosed therein and the pillow tick and batt cooperate to produce a three-way or four-way taper on the pillow. The pillow batt includes a plurality of layers of material arranged in superimposed layers with at least some of the layers terminating at a location spaced from a first of the edges of the tick so as to produce a taper adjacent the first edge of the pillow. Each of the layers of material forming the batt includes a plurality of plies of a web of compressible material with at least some of the plies terminating at a location spaced from a second edge adjacent the first edge to produce a taper adjacent the second edge. In one embodiment, the pillow has four sides and the third side has several of the plies of each layer spaced therefrom while all of the layers are located in a substantial common plane along the fourth edge to produce a pillow having a wedge-shaped configuration in one transverse dimension and an oval configuration in a second perpendicular dimension. In a second embodiment, the pillow has four edges and some of the plies of each layer are spaced from the third edge as well as the first edge while some of the layers are spaced from the fourth edge as well as the first edge to produce an oval cross-sectional configuration in two perpendicular directions transverse to the thickness of the pillow.

United States Patent [191 Willis Aug. 21, 1973 [75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 5/337, 5/355, 5/36l [51] Int. Cl A47g 9/00, A47c 27/00 [58] Field of Search 5/334, 337, 338,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,290,704 l2/l966 Willis 5/337 2,368,930 2/1945 Lemz 5/355 2,314,080 3/l943 Dime et a1. 5/327 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Assistant Examiner-Andrew M. Calvert Attorney-Max Dressler et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A polygonal pillow tick having a polygonal batt of corresponding configuration enclosed therein and the pillow tick and batt cooperate to produce a three-way or four-way taper on the pillow. The pillow batt includes a plurality of layers of material arranged in superimposed layers with at least some of the layers terminating at a location spaced from a first of the edges of the tick so as to produce a taper adjacent the first edge of the pillow. Each of the layers of material forming the batt includes a plurality of plies of a web of compressible material with at least some of the plies terminating at a location spaced from a second edge adjacent the first edge to produce a taper adjacent the second edge.

In one embodiment, the pillow has four sides and the third side has several of the plies of each layer spaced therefrom while all of the layers are located in a substantial common plane along the fourth edge to produce a pillow having a wedge-shaped configuration in one transverse dimension and an oval configuration in a second perpendicular dimension. In a second embodiment, the pillow has four edges and some of the plies of each layer are spaced from the third edge as well as the first edge while some of the layers are spaced from the fourth edge as well as the first edge to produce an oval cross-sectional configuration in two perpendicular directions transverse to the thickness of the pillow.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND-OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates the batt-filled type.

Because of the increased cost of manufacturing pillows including ticks filled with down, pillow manufacturers have in recent years substituted various types of material for the down heretofore used. One type of ma terial which has been used rather extensively for certain types of pillows is a rather thin elongated web or mat of a soft, resilient, compressible material of substantially uniform thickness and density which is folded into a plurality of layers to produce a batt. The batt is then enclosed in a pillow tick consisting of two sheets of suitable material, sewn together to compress the batt and produce the finished pillow.

However, in forming substantially rectangular pillows from elongated webs or mats of material, difficulties have been encountered in obtaining a proper threedimensional characteristic to the pillow which approximates that of a down-filled pillow. For example, in the formation of rectangular pillows from a continuous web of material, the pillows heretofore constructed had a considerable thickness adjacent each of the edges thereof. The thickened edges would not allow the pillow batt to conform to the configuration of the pillow tick.

generally to pillows of SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION tion, a substantially rectangular pillow formed of battlike material, very closely approximates the configuration of a conventional down filled pillow.

More specifically, the pillow of the present invention includes a polygonal tick having a plurality of angularly related edges and a three-dimensional batt of corresponding polygonal configuration enclosed therein. The pillow batt includes a plurality of superimposed layers with at least some of the layers terminating at a location spaced from a first of the edges of the batt and at least some of the layers include a plurality of plies of In one specific embodiment, the pillow has four edges arranged in opposed pairs with the respectivev a web of compressible material with at least some of the plies terminating at a location spaced from a second edge of the batt which is adjacent the first edge to pro duce a pillow having a central portion tapering to a reduced thickness adjacent the first and second edges when the batt is compressed and encased in a tick.

Stated another way, the pillow batt includes a plurality of superimposed layers with at least a portion of several of the layers being spaced from the peripheral edge of the batt and each of the layers including a plurality of plies of a web with at least some of the plies having a portion spaced from the peripheral edge of the batt. The plies and layers are arranged such that the batt has a maximum dimension or crown at the center thereof and tapers from the center to the peripheral edge when encased in a tick.

layers being respectively spaced from the opposite edges of the first pair of opposed edges while the plies are respectively spaced from the opposite edges of the second opposed pair of edges so as to produce a four sided pillow having a high central crown tapering to a minimum thickness adjacent each of the edges.

In another embodiment, the pillow batt has four edges and the respective plies are respectively spaced from'opposite edges of the batt while all of the layers are located in a common plane with the fourth edge of the batt to produce a pillow having a substantially oval cross-sectional configuration in one vertical plane and a substantially wedge shaped cross-sectional configuration in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. In this embodiment, the pillow can be classified as either a soft or low pillow when utilizing one edge of the pillow, while an opposite edge thereof can be categorized as a firm or high pillow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION. OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS FIG. I of the drawings discloses a rectangular pillow constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pillow batt enclosed in the pillow tick shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded fragmentary view of one of the layers of batt shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 showing a slightly modified form of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the modified pillow as viewed along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail two specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

The pillow 10 shown in FIG. 1 consists of a pillow tick l2'enclosing a pillow batt 14 (FIG. 4) which is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the pillow batt 14 consists of a plurality of layers 16 that are interconnected along fold lines 18a and 18b. An inspection of FIG. 2 reveals that a first group of the fold lines 18a terminates in a common vertical plane while a second group of the fold lines 18a terminates in a common plane which is spaced inwardly from the first plane. Likewise, the second fold lines 18b are arranged in first and second groups located along horizontally spaced vertically extending planes.

Each layer 16 consists of a thin, unitary web 20 of intermingled fibers which is folded upon itself along fold lines 22a and 22b (FIG. 3). An inspection of FIGS. 2 and 3 reveals that a first group of the fold lines 22a are again located in a common vertical plane while a second group of the fold lines 22 1 are located in a second plane spaced inwardly from the first plane. Likewise,

generally along line the fold lines 22b are arranged in first and second horizontally spaced, vertically extending planes.

The batt 14, having the web of compressible material folded into the plurality of superimposed plies, as shown in FIG. 3, and the continuous web of superimposed plies being folded to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, is then suitably enclosed in a pillow tick 12, which may consist of two panels 24 of a suitable tick material, such as cotton, carton percale, or the like. Preferably, the panels 24 are stitched together along the peripheral edge thereof and the batt is compressed substantially to the configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and S An inspection of FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, shows that in the assembled condition, the pillow batt has a maximum dimension at the center thereof and tapers in all directions from the center to the peripheral edge with a minimum dimension at the peripheral edge. In addition, by proper selection and arrangement of the respective plies and layers which form the batt, the pillow may have a greater firmness in the shorter transverse dimension than it has along the longer transverse dimension. In the illustrated embodiment, the pillow is shown as being polygonal or rectangular with four sides.

It will be appreciated that while the respective fold lines 18a and 1817 as well as 22a and 22b are arranged in two spaced parallel planes, the fold lines may readily be staggered in any other relationship so as to produce the desired taper from the central portion or crown of the pillow towards the outer edge. Furthermore, it may be desirable to have the staggered relationship be different on opposite ends and opposite sides of the rectangular pillow such that each of the four edges has a different degree of firmness or thickness.

A slightly modified embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in FIGS. 6 and 7 in which the layers of the multi-ply web are arranged in a slightly different manner so as to produce a substantially wedge shaped pillow in one cross-sectional dimension. Thus, the pillow batt 30 shown in FIG. 6 includes a muIti-ply web 32 folded along a first group of fold lines 34 along one edge of the batt and folded along a second group of fold lines 36 along an opposite edge to produce a multilayer batt. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, all of the fold lines 36 are located in a common plane along the associated edge while the fold lines 34 are staggered relative to each other to produce a substantially oval cross-sectional configuration for the batt in one transverse dimension after it has been compressed and encased in a pillow tick. The final configuration of the pillow along a plane extending transversely across the edges defined by the fold lines 34 and 36 will be substantially of the configuration shown in FIG. 7 where the pillow batt 30 is encased in a pillow tick 12 having a configuration substantially identical to the one disclosed in FIGS. 1-5. With this arrangement all of the plies in each of the layers are in a substantially common vertical plane along the edge defined by fold lines 36. Each of the layers forming the batt again includes a plurality of superimposed plies of a web folded in a manner described in connection with the fold lines of the plies being staggered along both edges. By folding the web as described, the cross-sectional configuration of the finished batt encased in a tick to produce a pillow, taken along a plane perpendicular to the crosssectional view shown in FIG. 7 and parallel to the opposite edges 34 and 36, will be substantially identical to that disclosed in FIG. 4.

Thus, it will be seen from the above description that the present invention provides a simple and effective manner for producing a pillow having a four-way taper from a central crown portion and in which the taper from the center to any one of the four edges can be varied merely by rearrangement of the plurality of plies and layers to produce the desired firmness and thickness adjacent each of the four edges. In addition, the modified embodiment of the present invention, provides a pillow having a soft or low classification when utilized in one manner and a high or firm classification when utilized in another manner.

With the principles disclosed in the present invention, there are many variations which could be made to make the pillow much more functional. While the pillow has been illustrated and described as being of a rectangular configuration, various other configurations may be constructed without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the peripheral edge of the pillow may take the form of a trapezoid or may be circular and the plies and/or layers may terminate at various locations from various portions of the continuous edge to produce any desired taper from the central crown portion to the outer edge.

The wedge-shaped pillow shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 is particularly adapted for reading or sitting up in bed while the pillow with the four-way taper has utility as a sleeping pillow.

I claim:

1. A pillow comprising a polygonal tick having a plurality of angularly related edges and a threedimensional pillow batt having corresponding angularly related edges enclosed therein, said batt having a plurality of superimposed layers with at least some of said layers terminating at a location spaced from a first of said edges of said batt, at least some of said layers including a plurality of plies ofa web of compressible material with at least some of said plies terminating at a location spaced from a second edge of said batt adjacent said first edge, said batt and tick cooperating to produce a pillow having a central portion tapering to a reduced thickness adjacent said first and second edges.

2. A pillow as defined in claim 1, in which said tick and batt are rectangular.

3. A pillow as defined in claim 1, in which at least some of said layers terminate at a location spaced from an edge of said batt which is spaced from said first edge to produce a tapered portion on said pillow adjacent said latter edge.

4. A pillow as defined in claim 1, in which at least some of said plies terminate at a location spaced from a third edge of said tick which is spaced from said second edge.

5. A pillow as defined in claim 4, in which said tick and batt have four edges and said layers terminate in a common plane along said fourth edge to produce a pillow having a substantially oval cross-sectional configuration in one plane and a substantially wedge shaped cross-sectional configuration in a second plane perpene dicular to said one plane.

6. A pillow as defined in claim 4, in which said tick and batt have four edges and at least some of said layers terminate at a location spaced from said fourth edge to produce a pillow having a substantially oval crosssectional configuration in two perpendicular planes through the thickness of said pillow.

7. A batt for a pillow comprising a web folded to form a three-dimensional batt of polygonal configuration having a plurality of edges, said batt including a plurality of superimposed layers interconnected along fold lines with at least some of said layers terminating at a location spaced from one of said edges, each of said layers including a plurality of plies of said web with at least some of said plies terminating at a location spaced from an edge adjacent said one edge to produce a batt having more plies and layers at the center than at said two adjacent edges.

8. A batt as dfined in claim 7, in which all of said layers terminate in a substantially common plane adjacent a third of said edges so that the number of plies and layers of said batt adjacent said .third edge is equal to the number of plies and layers at the center thereof.

9. A batt as defined in claim 8, in which said batt is rectangular and said layers extend between a first pair of opposed edges and said plies extend between a sec- 0nd pair of opposed edges and in which at least some.

of said plies terminate at a location spaced from both of said second pair of edges.

10. A batt for a pillow as defined in claim 7, in which said polygonal configuration is rectangular with two pair of opposed edges and said layers terminate at locations spaced from the first pair of edges and in which the respective plies of each layer terminate at locations spaced from the second pair of edges.

1 1. A pillow comprising a pillow tick having a peripheral edge and a pillow batt enclosed therein, said pillow comprising a plurality of superimposed layers, at least a portion of several of said layers being spaced from the peripheral edge, each of said layers including a plurality of plies of a web with at least some of said plies having a portion spaced from said edge, said plies and layers being arranged such that said pillow has a maximum dimension at the center thereof and tapers from said center to the peripheral edge. 

1. A pillow comprising a polygonal tick having a plurality of angularly related edges and a three-dimensional pillow batt having corresponding angularly related edges enclosed therein, said batt having a plurality of superimposed layers with at least some of said layers terminating at a location spaced from a first of said edges of said batt, at least some of said layers including a plurality of plies of a web of compressible material with at least some of said plies terminating at a location spaced from a second edge of said batt adjacent said first edge, said batt and tick cooperating to produce a pillow having a central portion tapering to a reduced thickness adjacent said first and second edges.
 2. A pillow as defined in claim 1, in which said tick and batt are rectangular.
 3. A pillow as defined in claim 1, in which at least some of said layers terminate at a location spaced from an edge of said batt which is spaced from said first edge to produce a tapered portion on said pillow adjacent said latter edge.
 4. A pillow as defined in claim 1, in which at least some of said plies terminate at a location spaced from a third edge of said tick which is spaced from said second edge.
 5. A pillow as defined in claim 4, in which said tick and batt have four edges and said layers terminate in a common plane along said fourth edge to produce a pillow having a substantially oval cross-sectional configuration in one plane and a substantially wedge shaped cross-sectional configuration in a second plane perpendicular to said one plane.
 6. A pillow as defined in claim 4, in which said tick and batt have four edges and at least some of said layers terminate at a location spaced from said fourth edge to produce a pillow having a substantially oval cross-sectional configuration in two perpendicular planes through the thickness of said pillow.
 7. A batt for a pillow comprising a web folded to form a three-dimensional batt of polygonal configuration having a plurality of edges, said batt including a plurality of superimposed layers interconnected along fold lines with at least some of said layers terminating at a location spaced from one of said edges, each of said layers including a plurality of plies of said web with at least some of said plies terminating at a location spaced from an edge adjacent said one edge to produce a batt haviNg more plies and layers at the center than at said two adjacent edges.
 8. A batt as dfined in claim 7, in which all of said layers terminate in a substantially common plane adjacent a third of said edges so that the number of plies and layers of said batt adjacent said third edge is equal to the number of plies and layers at the center thereof.
 9. A batt as defined in claim 8, in which said batt is rectangular and said layers extend between a first pair of opposed edges and said plies extend between a second pair of opposed edges and in which at least some of said plies terminate at a location spaced from both of said second pair of edges.
 10. A batt for a pillow as defined in claim 7, in which said polygonal configuration is rectangular with two pair of opposed edges and said layers terminate at locations spaced from the first pair of edges and in which the respective plies of each layer terminate at locations spaced from the second pair of edges.
 11. A pillow comprising a pillow tick having a peripheral edge and a pillow batt enclosed therein, said pillow comprising a plurality of superimposed layers, at least a portion of several of said layers being spaced from the peripheral edge, each of said layers including a plurality of plies of a web with at least some of said plies having a portion spaced from said edge, said plies and layers being arranged such that said pillow has a maximum dimension at the center thereof and tapers from said center to the peripheral edge. 